Page 67 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

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+I - 180 HISTORY O F ARKANSAS. -- 1
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blacksmith, bringing both oool~pationsup to the taking part in the battles of Shiloh and several

fineat points of perfection. The elder Hndgens others of lesser note. Alter two years' servim he

had a remarkable memory, and conld speak was transferred to the ordnance department, and

fluently five different Indian laugnages. His edn- had charge of the manufacture of ammuuition a t

cation was of the best, andobtained through his own Arkadelphia. Ark., and Marshall, Tex., a position

exertions a t home. He was known far and wideas in which he distinguished himself. I n May, 1865,

a hunter of great prowess, but in lateryears, when he retl~rnedto Jefferson County, which place he

the wnntry became more thickly popdated and has made his home ever since. After leaving the

game was thinned out, the chase lost its excite- army he was left almost penniless, but his deter-

ment, and his trusty rifle was hung upon the mined spirit and firmness of purpose led him on

wall for good. He was highly respected by the like the hero of Excelsior, and now he can look

citizens of Jefferson County dnring his rnsidence proudly down from his present prosperity and feel

there, and was elected by them to represent the satisfied in the reflection that it was his own indns-

connty for one term in the legislature. He was try, toil and perseverance that have brought him

also commissioner of improvements, jnstice of the where he is. Mr. Hndgens owns about 600 acres

peace. and held various other public ofh'ces, with of the best land in Central Arkansas. and has

the dignity and wisdom that elicited the pro. placed about 800 acres under cultivation. I n 1882

foundest respect. As a business man he made a he commenced in business, which he actively con-

success. Although a heavy loser by the late war, tinned until the latter part of 1886. On Sep-

his tact and ability placed him on an independent tember 0, 1866, he was married to Miss Frankie

basis, he having regained as much after that event Franklin, of Bradley Guntp, Ark., by whom he

as he had before. Mr, Hndgens was a spiritnalist, has had six ahildren: Lnma (wife of John A.

and in polit,ics a Democrat. Dnring the rebellion Pierce, a prominent farmer of this coanty), John

his sympathies were with the South frombeginning A. (at home), Otelia (who died in her sixteenth

to end. The family on both sides are of English year), Calla (at home), Willie, and Fannie. Mrs.

descent, the mother being a danghter of Major Hudgens is a devont, Christian woman, aud an in-

David Irwin, a famous soldier in the Revolutionary , defatigable worker for the church. Her husband

War. After the desth of his first wife the elder is allied with the Democracy, and is a valuable

Hudgens was married to Miss Jane Derresseanx, man to that party in his secliou. He is very

of Arkansas, this lady dying in June, 1868, and popular in both m i a l and businees circles, and is

in 1860 he was married to Mrs. (Adkins) Brewster, held in high esteem.

of Tennessee. Three children were born to him Hon. James A. Hudson is one of the substan-

by his first marriage, of whum John A., the prin- tial men of this State, and one of the old settlers

cipal of this sketch, is the only onenow living, the and prominent citizens of Jeflerson County. He

two deceased being Mary and David W. ;the latter is a nat,iveof Georgia, having been horn in Jau-

was a lieutenant in the Confederate army, and uary, 1817. in Petersborg, and is one of three ~ I I E

lost his life a t Vicksburg while gallantly defend- who blessed the union of Charles and Lncy (BIc-

iog his battery. Mr. Hndgens had nochildreu by Gehee) Hndson, natives of Virginia. CharlesHud-

his second marriage, hut two were born to the lmt, son, a merchant, died in Alabama when our snhjed

William and Jacob. Ambrose Hndgens died June was an infant; his wife subsequently retnrned to

13, 1880, in his seventy-sixth year. John A, re. her father's home, and there James grew to man-

oeived his education in his native county, and hood I n 1830, the mother with her threeboys,

passed his life in a qniet, nneventfnl msnner, until James, Lawrence and Marion (now deceased), set-

the year 1801, when he enlisted in the Confeder- tled near Memphis, and fourteen yearslatermoved

ate army, becoming a member of Capt. McNally's to Jeflerson County, Ark., where she died in

1company, in the Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, and 1872,at the age of seventy-seven. Marion died in

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